Abstract [en]

Background: The specialist nurse has knowledge on how to improve and develop the care of every patient and lead staff in the nursing process. It's not always the role of the psychiatric specialist nurse is obvious, the role is usually not visible or confirmed in the daily work.

Aim: To describe the nurse's experience of the benefits of the specialist competencies in psychiatric care.

Method: An interview study with a qualitative approach. Six specialist nurses in psychiatric nursing with a master's degree who worked in psychiatric care for a minimum of two years in their current profession were interviewed for this study.

Results: The informants experienced the education giving them necessary skills for the work, increased professional pride, and a holistic approach in the treatment of patients, increased scientific awareness and significance for the leadership. On the other hand informants experienced that their competences and skills were unknown to other team members and not confirmed and looked after by the organization.

Discussions: Studies describing the factors that prevent or promote specialist nurse's ability to use its expertise in psychiatric care is needed.